Having a dog has been a lifelong passion, and my eldest canine companion, Wally, a Chihuahua mix, has been by my side for nearly eleven years. Back in 2008, my husband expressed a desire for a bulldog as a wedding gift. At the time, our knowledge of the breed and how to find a reputable breeder or rescue was limited. It was during a casual stroll through our local mall that we encountered a man with a striking bulldog. Upon inquiring about its origin, we received the breeder’s name and website, prompting an online visit to see if any puppies were available.
The breeder’s website appeared legitimate, featuring numerous pictures and positive testimonials from previous clients. We were immediately captivated by a litter of three white puppies, despite the breeder being a four-hour drive away. We proceeded to place a deposit without an initial visit, a decision we later recognized as our first mistake. We were under the impression that we would have the opportunity to select our puppy upon arrival. However, when the day came to pick up our new companion, the breeder instructed us to meet them at a gas station rather than their home – our second oversight. They arrived with one White Bulldog puppy and three brindle ones. While they attempted to persuade us to take a brindle puppy, my husband had already fallen for the white one, and thus, our little Duke became part of our family.
Unfortunately, just three days after his arrival, and after our 48-hour trial period as stipulated in the purchase contract had expired – our third mistake – Duke began to show signs of severe bloating and an inability to retain food or water. A swift visit to the emergency veterinarian revealed that Duke had not been properly de-wormed by the breeder. After he recovered and had been with us for a few months, we came to the realization that Duke was deaf.
Further veterinary care, including visits to a dog dermatologist, uncovered that Duke suffered from allergies, specifically to corn and pollen. To compound these challenges, by the end of his second year, Duke required surgery to preserve his right eye.
Despite these significant hurdles, we have successfully managed his allergies and are now actively training him using hand signals. He has mastered commands such as “come,” “sit,” “lay down,” and understands the signals for “no” and “good boy.” Duke is an absolute love bug, starting every morning by offering cuddles and kisses from the couch. He has become an immense blessing to us and everyone he encounters. We find joy in teaching our friends, many of whom are unfamiliar with deaf animals, how to communicate with Duke, enabling them to better understand his unique mannerisms and behaviors.
Duke, the amazing deaf bulldog, has defied the odds and is growing into a remarkably handsome dog. We truly cannot imagine our lives without him! Discovering a resource like Deaf Dogs Rock has been invaluable, providing continued support for his training and well-being.
(Photo of Wally and Duke just chilling out – photo courtesy of Meghan Coates)
We are incredibly grateful to Meghan and her family for sharing Duke’s heartwarming story.
Mr. and Mrs. Coates – Chesterfield, VA
A note from Christina of Deaf Dogs Rock: Meghan’s email brought immense excitement. A graduate of Roanoke College, she had seen the Deaf Dogs Rock story featured on her alma mater’s homepage and reached out to express her enjoyment of the stories on DDR. She shared her own experience with Duke, her incredible deaf bulldog. Nitro and I, along with the entire Coates family, believe Duke and Wally absolutely rock for raising Duke, the amazing deaf bulldog!
Thank you for sharing Duke’s happy tail with us! ~ Christina and Nitro Lee
